One killed, eight injured in church bombing in Ukraine

The celebrations of the anniversary of the baptism of Russia have been marred by a blast in a church in the Ukrainian city of Zaporozhye.

An 74-year-old woman, a nun named Ludmila, has reportedly died in hospital from multiple injuries. Another eight people are said to have been wounded.

Fortunately, because of the intense heat, only 15 people were at the church when the blast occurred.

Ukraine's security service says the blast was caused by a home-made explosive device, equal to half a kilo of TNT.

Local reports indicate that the bomb was hidden in a parcel near the church entrance.

Police are currently working at the scene; a criminal case has been initiated.

So far, they have denied that the blast could be connected with Patriarch Kirill’s visit to Ukraine, as the device was not wired with glass or any other materials – the blast has only broken the church’s windows and slightly damaged its walls, leaving icons and other flat surfaces untouched.

The church belongs to the Moscow patriarchy, which in-part runs the Orthodox Church in Ukraine.